Emergency Shelters in Tel Aviv: Residents Face Unprecedented Threats

The building located on Be'eri Street in Tel Aviv has stood for approximately five to six decades, although its residents are unsure of the exact timeline. Its age is evident, with stained concrete pillars and a worn glass door, while electrical cables hang loosely, partially concealed by palm trees and rhododendrons. Within this structure, 30 individuals and a dog call their eleven apartments home. However, the night of June 13, 2025, brought an experience none of them had encountered before.

At 7 PM, the first alarm sounded--a preliminary warning indicating that a more severe alert might follow. With the advancements in technology, numerous apps have emerged in Israel, providing residents with early warnings. Following the interception of 100 Iranian drones earlier that morning, Iranian forces retaliated by launching rockets at Israel, a response to the recent Israeli airstrike on their nuclear program.

Tippi, a social worker living in apartment five, sits on a step in the tiled stairwell, hesitating to enter the cramped and humid shelter in the basement. She had prepared her home for Shabbat, cooking meals and lighting candles in anticipation of her two daughters and son visiting. Now, however, those plans are dashed as she watches the notifications on her phone with growing concern.

Meanwhile, her neighbors Yudit and Tzachi return home, sharing their relief at making it back from their vacation in Romania just before the airport was closed due to the escalating conflict. They express gratitude for being in their home during a crisis, acknowledging the uncertainty of how long the situation might last. Many residents are bracing themselves for a prolonged conflict.

As the evening progresses, most residents remain in their apartments, heeding the warning of the preliminary alarm while preparing for the possibility of further threats. Their collective anxiety underscores the ongoing tensions in the region, as they seek to find some semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos.